The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communication.
The development followed Tuesday’s resumed proceedings, during which the prosecution and defence adopted their respective positions on the application.
Prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoyin, SAN, told the court that the matter was scheduled for the adoption of El-Rufai’s no-case submission.
Counsel to the former governor, Akinyemi Aremu, informed the court that the defence team was led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, who had requested that the matter be stood down because he was still on his way to court.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, declined the request, stating, “I do not do stand downs.”
Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for another member of the defence team, Ekere, to conduct the proceedings.
Ekere then moved an application seeking an extension of time to regularise the defendant’s no-case submission and have the processes deemed properly filed and served.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the no-case submission properly filed and served.
Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold the application and discharge the defendant.
The prosecution, however, opposed the application and urged the court to order El-Rufai to enter his defence.
Aladedoyin argued that the defence had failed to adequately address Exhibit B, which the prosecution described as the defendant’s confession.
“If they had averred it, they won’t make the no-case submission, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” the prosecution counsel told the court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for ruling on the no-case submission.
The prosecution had earlier presented evidence from witnesses in the case, including testimony concerning an alleged intercepted conversation. A prosecution witness previously told the court that investigators considered the conversation an admission relating to the alleged interception.
El-Rufai’s no-case submission seeks to have the court determine whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence requiring him to enter a defence. The court’s ruling on October 26 will determine the next stage of the proceedings.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communication.
The development followed Tuesday’s resumed proceedings, during which the prosecution and defence adopted their respective positions on the application.
Prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoyin, SAN, told the court that the matter was scheduled for the adoption of El-Rufai’s no-case submission.
Counsel to the former governor, Akinyemi Aremu, informed the court that the defence team was led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, who had requested that the matter be stood down because he was still on his way to court.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, declined the request, stating, “I do not do stand downs.”
Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for another member of the defence team, Ekere, to conduct the proceedings.
Ekere then moved an application seeking an extension of time to regularise the defendant’s no-case submission and have the processes deemed properly filed and served.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the no-case submission properly filed and served.
Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold the application and discharge the defendant.
The prosecution, however, opposed the application and urged the court to order El-Rufai to enter his defence.
Aladedoyin argued that the defence had failed to adequately address Exhibit B, which the prosecution described as the defendant’s confession.
“If they had averred it, they won’t make the no-case submission, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” the prosecution counsel told the court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for ruling on the no-case submission.
The prosecution had earlier presented evidence from witnesses in the case, including testimony concerning an alleged intercepted conversation. A prosecution witness previously told the court that investigators considered the conversation an admission relating to the alleged interception.
El-Rufai’s no-case submission seeks to have the court determine whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence requiring him to enter a defence. The court’s ruling on October 26 will determine the next stage of the proceedings.
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